Platen mechanism.



E. OCUMPAUGH.

PLATEN MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18, 1914.

Patented June 15, 1915.

WITNESSES IN VEN TOR. fammd Ocumpoay/z. B y

A TTORNE V.

In: NORRIS PETERS Cor. PHUTo-LITHQ WASHINGIVNTN TJ'TD STATES PATENT FFTQE.

EDMUND OCUMPAUGH, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

PLATEN MECHANISM.

Application filed September 18, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDMUND OCUMPAUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Platen Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in platen mechanisms, and the invention relates particularly to means for detachably and adjustably supporting the platens of check-printing machines and the like.

Heretofore, the compressible platens used in connection with check printing machines have been inserted in comparatively rigid supports, in such manner that it requires considerable time and labor, for the unskilled otlicemen who use the machines, to remove the wornout platens, as well as to install the new platens. Furthermore, the said platens as a rule consist of some relatively soft and readily compressible material, such as rubber, leather and the like, and when the operators of the machines install the new platens, they experience great difliculty in adjusting, alining and leveling up the platens, so that they may perform their work properly and produce perfect and even impressions from the type.

It is an object of the present invention to remedy these well-known defects and troubles, by providing a novel, simple, convenient and self-adjusting platen-supporting mechanism. To this end, an elongated bar or strip of suitable platen material is first provided. A relativelv thin and light metal holder, preferably in the form of a channel is next provided, into which the platen is forced or driven before it is shipped from the factory to the user of the machine. The next provision consists of a support which is permanently attached to the machine directly over, or adjacent to the printing position of the type. This support may be of the reciprocating type, or it may be sta tionary, in case the type is movable, and consists of a split body, comprising a rigid member, and a removable part, between which the platen-holder is inserted and detachably and adjustably held. -Novel, simple and quick-acting locking means are then mounted upon the rigid part of the support, which cooperate with the removable member for holding the platen in the working po .sition.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915. Serial No. 862,329.

The various features and parts of the invention will be understood from the detailed description which follows, and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top-plan view of the support; showing the platen applied thereto ready for work. Fig. 2 is a front side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the complete device. Fig. 4 is a central vertical cross-section, taken on line H of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view showing the several parts of the device separated for either removing the platen, or for installing a new platen. Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively a side elevation and end view of a non-collapsible platen support, being a modification of the device shown in Figs. 1-5. Figs. 8 and 9 are similar views of another modified form of the support. Figs. 10 and 11 are similar views of still another modification, and Fig. 12 is a detail View of the platen and holder shown in Figs. 1-5.

The invention in its preferred construction, arrangement and operation is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawing, in which 2 represents a plunger or shaft, having a head 3, and a reduced body 4, the latter being surrounded by a coil-spring 5, which is employed for automatically raising the platen and its support after each impression stroke of the same. The spring 5 rests upon a ledge 6, which may be a part of the frame of a check or other printing machine, while the upper end of said spring engages the underside of the head 3, and a pin 7 carried by the body 4 limits the upward movement of the support. The lower end of the plunger 2 is provided with a relatively broad'tenon or lug 8, preferably integral and disposed diametrically to the body 4- The platen support proper consists of a split part comprising a member 9 which is rigidly secured to the tenon 8 by pins 8, the cross-section of said member being sub stantially a right-angle, and one edge thereof being notched or recessed, as at 10, to receive one-half of the tenon 8. The member 9 is also provided with a plurality of dowelpins 11, which project horizontally across the hollow corner, designated by the numeral 9. 12 represents the removal or detachable member of the support, similar in cross-section to the member 9, but arranged so that its hollow corner, as 12, faces the @ut-awayportion 9. The supporting mem- V the notch 10, and notch 13 receives the other half of the tenon 8.I :The member12 is pro Yand their detachable nature, is best seen in ber 12has a notch 13, which coincides with vided with holes or sockets 11 to receive the free ends of the dowel-pins 11, when the parts are assembled as shown in Figs. 1, 2,

3 and 4. 5 The generalshape of these parts the exploded viewFig. 5. The support members are locked in the assembled position by spring controlled latch-levers which comprise bars 14 and 1 1, which are disposedin slots 15 and 15 cut horizontally in i the opposite ends of the members 9 and 12.

The latch-bars 14 are pivoted in the rigid member 9 by pins 16, which allow said latches. to be swung from'the locking posi- ;;tion, at right-angles to said members, to the released position in alinement with the memher 9 ;(see full and dotted lines in Fig. 1). The freeends 14E". of the latches are cylindrical and each is fitted with a loose collar ,-or sleeve 17, whichserves as the handle, and

;:;;tend totightly hold the members 9 and 12 which is held on the bar by a screw 18, which is threaded 'into the end of the bar. The sleeves 17. are allowed certain longitudinal play on thelbars during the latching and un- 5;;l2LtCl1l11g operations.

against each other. The swinging of the latches on their pivots releases the member 12,- which may thenbe removed from the dowels 11. The platen proper, which is 5 ;adapted for use in connection with a large number of check and other printing ma- ChlIlGSfCOIlSiStS of an elongated bar or part 20, made of rubber or similar compressible substance. The platen preferably projects .wislightly beyond the opposite ends of the support 9 12, but it may be of any suitablelength, shape and consistency. The

platen 20 is disposed in an inverted channellikeholder or sheath 21, preferably a light 1. .sheet metal, into which the platen is preferablydriven or forced by the manufacturer, so that the holder and the platen may 5 hand end of the holder.

be handled and shipped as one part. In

. order that the platen 20 may be readily and properly applied to the support 912, without requiring. any subsequent adjustment,

the platen and its holder 21 are provided with coinciding perforations 11" (see Figs. 5 and 12) to receive the dowel-pins 11. By

the use of the dowel-pins 11, the platens,

which are accurately and truly positioned in the; holders 21, are readily and quickly brought to the proper adjustment and alinement relatively to the support members 9-12, and also to the face of the type of the printing machine, without any further.

work on, means being required. To apply the platen to the support, the latches 14: are swung around, as from the full, to the dotted line position, shown in Figs. 1 and'5, the member 12 is then disengaged from the dowels 11, the platen and its holder 21 are then slipped onto the dowels, followed by theinember 12, after which thelatches 14:

are swung back intolocking. position, at which time the inner ends of the sleeves 17 enter shallow sockets 22 formed in thefront face of member 12. The work of removing and replacing the platen, owing to the novel construction of thesupport 9-12, consumes but a minute or two, and by the provision of the holder 21, which partially envelops the platen, having the concentric perforations 11 to receive the dowels 11, the platen is instantly brought to the proper adjustment ready for use, as soon as the latches 14 are swung into closed position. A further advantage of the present construction.

and arrangement of the support and platen..

with any ofthe other parts of the printing 7 r a machine. 'It may be well to explain, that in some of the check printing machines, the platens-are inserted endwise into the grooved one-part supports or holders, and in order toremove and replace such platens, a con-' siderable portion of the machines have'to be dismantled and reassembled, which not only consumes a great dealof time, but often results, owing to theunskilfulness of the operators, in some of the many parts being improperly restored and secured in place.

'In Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive, the platens are the same as. the part 20 in the first five'figures, and they are also incasedin holders similar to 21, the said platens being interchangeable for all of the modified and the other views, with but slight mechanical changes. 7 i V In Figs. 6 andv 7 the support comprises one-part 24,- havinga longitudinal groove or slot 25 to receivethe platen and holder.

The platen is held in place by a flateheaded stud 26, which engages a slot in the left- At'the other end the holder is fitted with a screw 27, which enters a slot 28 in the end ofthe support 24:,

and the platen is held rigidly in place by a nut 29 which is threaded to thescrew. The

' platen and its holder under this construction The right-hand end of the latch 32 is formed into a hook 35 which enters a gap 36 between the platen and the holder. The platen is released, and the same may be withdrawn endwise by the depressing of the handle of the lever 32, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 8.

In Figs. 10 and 11, the support consists of a single part 38, which also has a longitudinal slot 39 to receive the platen 20 and 21. A stud 26 is employed for holding the one end of the platen, while the opposite end is provided with upwardly projecting spring-arms 40 and 40; which are disposed in a slot 41 in the end of the support. The latches 40 and 40 are preferably a part of a U-shaped part, which is secured to the holder 21 by a rivet 42. Each arm is provided with a ball-like projection 43, which engages sockets 44 in the opposite sides of the slot 41, for preventing the endwise movement of the platen while in service. To release the platen, the arms 40 and 40 are pressed toward each other by the fingers, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11. This withdraws the balls 43 from the sockets and frees and permits the platen and holder to be withdrawn in the longitudinal direction, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 10.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a platen and a holder therefor, said platen and said holder having coinciding perforations, a support for said platen, said support comprising a rigid member having a plurality of dowelpins for piercing said platen and holder, and a detachable member engaging said dowel-pins and clamping the platen against said rigid member.

2. In combination, a platen, a holder tightly gripping said platen said parts being movable as one, said platen and said holder having concentric perforations, a split support, said support comprising a rigid member having dowel-pins received by the perforations in said platen and holder, and a removable member engaged by said dowel-pins and cooperating with the rigid member for clamping and holding said platen in place.

3. In a platen mechanism, the combination with a sheathed platen, of a split support comprising a rigid member and a removable member, said members having cutaway portions facing each other to provide a groove to receive the platen, means carried by one of said members for engaging and holding said platen in true alinement, and means engaging both of said members for clamping the same tightly against the opposite sides of said platen.

4. In a platen mechanism, the combination with a sheathed platen, of a split support comprising a rigid member and a member movable laterally toward and away from said rigid member, said support having a longitudinal groove formed by coinciding angles into which said platen is inserted, and means carried by one of said members for pressing and holding said members against said platen.

In combination, a platen, a holder partially enveloping and tightly gripping said platen, said platen and said holder having a plurality of concentric perforations, a split support, said support, comprising a rigid member having dowel-pins received by said perforations, a removable member having sockets to receive the ends of said dowelpins, and a pair of latches carried by the rigid member adapted to engage and draw said removable member against the rigid member for adjustably holding said platen in the operative position.

6. A platen mechanism for check-printing machines, comprising a compressible bar, a metal sheath partially enveloping said bar, said sheath and said bar being perforated, a support for said platen, said support comprising two members, one of said members being rigid, the other member being removable, means for successively interlocking said members and said platen together, and locking devices carried by said rigid member and engaging said movable member for rigidly clamping said platen between the said members.

7 In a platen for check-printing machines, a compressible bar, a metallic holder tightly enveloping three sides of said bar and portable therewith, a support for adjustably holding said bar, said support split longitudinally, one member of said support provided with dowel-pins which pierce said platen and said holder, the other member of said support being detachable and having sockets to receive the said pins for bringing and holding said detachable member in correspondence with the platen and the other member, and locking devices engaging the opposite ends of said members for drawing I said members toward each other for tightly gripping said platen.

8. The combination with a. sheathed platen comprising an elongated bar, having transverse perforations, of a split support for said platen, the members of said support having cut-away-portions facing each other for providing a groove to receive said platen, one of said members being rigid and having pins which pierce said platen, the other member of said support being removable and having sockets engaged by said pins, and spring-controlled latches disposed at the opposite ends of said support for compressing and holding said members tightly against the opposite sides of the platen.

9. A platen mechanism comprising a venting the accidental release of the platen, and spring controlled locking means cooperating with the other means for holding said platen parallel to the support.

.10 In combination, a platen support including a rigid member, dowels carried by said member, a detachable member engaged and brought into correspondence with the rigid member by said dowels, and a platen having perforations'to receive said dowels for adjustably supporting said platen tween said members.

Copies of this patent may beobtained for 11. Incombination, aplaten support lIl-I eluding a rigid member, "dowels carried by;

ing perforations to receive said dowels for adjustably supporting said platen between} said members, and ya plurality of locking ,devices for drawing and ho-ldingsaid members and said platen in the operative position. n

In testimony in presence of two witnesses.

V EDMUND OCUMPAUGHI Witnesses: V 7 y HERMAN H; SOHOPFER HARRY DE WALLACE.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. a

whereof I affix my signature 

